god bless Australia and her sex industry.

[shadowgrin]

http://news.ph.msn.com/lifestyle/articl ... id=1731044

Sex the silver lining to economic hard times

As financial turmoil spins around the globe, some Australian brothels say it is business-as-usual for now with sex seen as a consumer need like tobacco, for which demand remains strong despite an economic slump.

"I think that during times of economic downturn, you often find that it's alcohol, tobacco, gambling and the sex industry which are the blue-chip industries," said the woman, who gave her name as Catherine.

"Because I think men are unwilling to give up their alcohol, their sex, their gambling and their smoking."

Catherine said that the arrival of the southern hemisphere summer and Australia's hosting of the Rugby League World Cup beginning later this month would almost certainly boost trade.

Fiona Patten, who heads the Eros Foundation which represents the adult retail and entertainment industry, said it was not surprising that brothels were running a brisk trade in the face of enormous financial upheaval.

"I was in the fashion industry in the 90s during the recession and that was what introduced me to the sex industry because my customers were sex workers -- they were the only ones who could afford one-off designs at that time," she said.

"So it's probably not something they would cut out of their budget immediately. They will see it as an affordable expense."

If anything, the sale of pornography may drop, but this could be partly attributed to the rise in Internet porn, she said.

"People are spending less time going out to dinner, or are pulling in the belts on holidays or things like that, but they are still buying porn," Patten said. "It's seen as a cheap luxury."

[Andrew]

I had wondered why the local restaurants, pubs and clubs had been so quiet recently.

[The X]

I had wondered why the local restaurants, pubs and clubs had been so quiet recently.

Thank Kevin '07 & his RTD tax that means you pay at least $10 for a bottled bourbon & cola....I think a lot of people are happy to buy a bottle for $25 & mix their own....and you get a whole lot more drinks out of it and they taste better....that must've been one of the stupidest taxes I've ever seen....get voted, then screw a lot of your voters, who are working class, by taxing their Bundy Rum & cola's....plus it just pushes the underage drinkers into buying bottles rather than RTD's....not smart....ahh well, doesn't affect me too much as I had always gone with bottles anyways....only time it annoys me is if I'm at pub & now forced to buy beer....

but yes, my rant wasn't completely off topic....I'll tie it into the topic....instead of a guy piling up a girl with $10 drinks each time, just save time & go to a brothel....

[Laxation]

Beer wasn't taxed...

but yeah, go aussies

[Andrew]

get voted, then screw a lot of your voters, who are working class, by taxing their Bundy Rum & cola's

Then slow down their Internet, going directly against your election promise of speeding it up.

[Matt]

beer wasn't taxed but it sure is expensive now......I remember being able to get 3 quality beers for $20, now you get 2.

[The X]

beer wasn't taxed but it sure is expensive now......I remember being able to get 3 quality beers for $20, now you get 2.

agreed....basic pots of beer are like $4....you can't get a schooner for less than $5....jugs range from $12-$16....only time I really drink a beer these days is if it's happy hour & can get $4 Corona's (I remember 3 years back I could get $2 Corona's at happy hour) & cheap jugs, or out having lunch, so I suck it up a buy a schooner or pint....

[Andrew]

I guess it depends on the beer but some places you can still get a schooner for under $5, though you won't get much change out of your $5 note.

[Arcane]

I usually buy jugs of Pure Blonde for $10.40 at Dicey Reilly's at Garden City during regular hours but at happy hour pints of PB are $4.30

[Laxation]

beer wasn't taxed but it sure is expensive now......I remember being able to get 3 quality beers for $20, now you get 2.

Depends where you go, and whether the beer is bottled. Theres plenty of places where you can get beers for $4, not too expensive.

I dont buy bottled beer when there's a choice, its twice the price and not as good as tap beer...

$4 Corona's

around $4 too much

[Dan's Brain]

I dont buy bottled beer when there's a choice, its twice the price and not as good as tap beer...

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. The price motive is understandable, but in what way is it not as good as tap beer? Tap beer has been incredibly watered down, and it feels like it does nothing at all.

You are the first person that i've ever heard prefer tap beer.

[The X]

it depends what beer is on tap & also the quality of it....I don't mind say Tooheys New on tap if I want a cheap, bodgy beer, but would never drink it out of bottle....I quite like Tooheys Extra Dry & Pure Blonde's, but don't really like them on tap....Irish beers on tap even if you could get them in bottles....Belgium beers are great off tap....I prefer them out of tap than in bottles....

so it's 50/50 I'd say....premium beers seem a bit better out of bottles....standard beers a bit better on tap....but if I'm at a pub, I'll go tap beer 95% of the time due to price & being at a pub....if I'm at home or out at bbq, then bottles are good....bottles are also too expensive at pubs to warrant the cost unless it's happy hour or promo time....

[Andrew]

Agreed, Tooheys New (and similar cheaper beers) taste better on tap. At the risk of losing Bloke Points, I also prefer bottles to tinnies.